Four Denver-area senior women will cycle more than 3,000 miles from coast to coast across America as they compete in what's billed as "The World's Toughest Bike Race," this June. And with every mile they pedal they'll be raising funds and awareness for the Rural Partnership for Colorado Boys & Girls Clubs.

Golden resident Lark Birdsong is a member of this senior women's cycle team, the Colorado Flash, that has raised more than $25,000 to date for the rural youth clubs in Colorado, and plans to raise more funds during the race.

The Colorado Flash cycle team members are all accomplished lifelong world-class athletes. They are also mothers, grandmothers, spouses, business owners, and leaders. The Race Across AMerica is the longest running ultra-distance bicycle endurance competition in the world. The clock runs from the start in Oceanside, California and doesn't stop until the team reaches the finish line in Annapolis, Maryland.

The Colorado Flash team goal is to set a new women's senior record and complete the 3,000 mile race in 7 Days, for an average of 17 miles per hour as they pedal through fifteen states. The Colorado Flash team members are:

Lark Birdsong, age 57 of Golden, and a first time competitor to this race;
Celeste Callahan, age 65 of Denver, and a two-time Team Race Across America finisher, including the record-holding Senior Women's Team;
Helena Harman, age 51 of Denver, and a first time competitor to this race; and
Carol Whipple, age 50 of Arvada, and a first time competitor to this race.

The Rural Partnership for Colorado Boys & Girls Clubs provides safe and positive centers staffed with youth development professionals where kids can spend time at the clubs when they aren't in school. This partnership covers 9 different rural organizations and 14 separate sites, serving more than 5,000 kids ages 6-18 in rural Colorado.

To sponsor Lark, please contact Julie Mordecai with the Rural Partnership for Colorado Boys & Girls Clubs at 719.580.0379 or online at www.coloradoruralkids.org. Miles can be purchased at $1 per-mile on up.

The Race Across AMerica begins Wednesday, June 11, and the Colorado Flash team's sponsors include Backpackers Pantry, Adventure Cycling, Sidi Shoes, Vredestein Tires, The Sock Guy, Rack Attack,the Columbia Triathlon Association, and Honey Stinger. For more information about The Colorado Flash, please visit http://www.coloradoflash2008.com/.